the obama administration plans to cut u.s. forces in afghanistan by more than half during the next 16 months. we will start this morning on the domestic front. you have seen the headlines about the heightened volume of flu this year and the decision of some health care workers not to get vaccinated, a choice that has cost some of them their jobs. what are your thoughts on mandated vaccinations for health care workers? all others can call in, 202-585- 3882. yuka post your thoughts on facebook, twitter, or e-mail us . dr. anthony fauci is the director of the national institutes of allergy and infectious diseases, joining us on the phone. the houston chronicle headline this morning -- what is going on? guest: you never know why, with influenza. it's unpredictable accept that we have a flu season every year. what we are seeing this year and what is spurring the headlines is the way this started off earlier than usual with a strain of flu that is a bad sprain in the sense that it's making people more ill than some other strains, we